Despite announcements by various governments in the South East of Nigeria ordering that citizens should go about with their normal businesses on May 30, usually observed in the region as Biafra Day, there are indications that in many State capitals in the former Eastern region, many citizens are afraid to open their shops despite security assurances for their protection.
In Owerri, Imo State capital, the situation is not different. Our Correspondent who was at the IMSU junction along the busy Okigwe road said that the road was almost deserted of vehicular movement while almost all shops were locked for fear of being attacked by hoodlums, although security operatives were in patrol.
The same scenario was witnessed at Toronto junction MCC/Uratta road, popular Douglas, Wetheral, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha among other roads in Owerri Metropolis, although as at going to press there is no reported case of attack in the capital territory.
A pedestrian who identified his name as Emma Okolie, and granted a brief interview to our reporter, said that the Biafra Day could have been allowed to remain, not as a republican day in Nigeria, but as a memorial day in honour of Late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, whom many in the South-East admired for his courage in leadership while alive.
In light of the events surrounding Biafra Day in the South-East of Nigeria, it is evident that despite government announcements urging citizens to go about their normal activities, fear still looms large in many State capitals in the region. The reluctance of citizens to open their shops and the near-deserted roads paint a picture of unease and apprehension, reinforcing the importance of security assurances for the protection of individuals and businesses. This situation highlights the complexities of upholding the right to move freely throughout Nigeria, as enshrined in Section 41(1) the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), amidst historical and cultural significance attached to specific events like Biafra Day. As the day unfolds, it is crucial to reflect on the sentiments expressed by individuals like Emma Okolie, emphasizing the need to commemorate figures like Late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu while navigating the delicate balance between remembrance and national unity.
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